Where's the indignation? Collective bargaining fades as WI issue

MADISON — Is all that indignation over Act 10 gone? Maybe not. But collective bargaining doesn't seem to be selling for Democrats in the recall battle royale.

More news and notes from the land of recall — lightning round style.

• As Democratic gubernatorial candidates were set to face questions at the live Wisconsin Public Television recall primary debate Friday night, the Wall Street Journal wondered why mum’s the word on collective bargaining.

Twelve percent of Democrats likely to vote in the primary ranked “restoring collective bargaining rights for public employees” as the most important consideration in their nominee choice, according to the poll.

• Time magazine takes a look at the fundraising battle between “Big Business and Big Labor” that’s poured millions of dollars into both sides of this recall campaign.

• In its second piece on Wisconsin politics of the day, the Wall Street Journal says it’s not just big, outside money stuffing campaign war chests; small donors and Wisconsinites are opening their checkbooks too, and you might be surprised for whom.

• With the race for governor expected to be a dead heat, Wisconsin Reporter investigates the claim that Wisconsin voting machines may not be up to the task.

• One thing Wisconsin has learned during the past year: democracy ain’t cheap.

The Government Accountability Board, the state’s elections watchdog, estimates Tuesday’s primary and next month’s general recall elections, will cost taxpayers more than $16 million.